RAL 280-M vs Black Magic

RAL 280-MRAL EffectvsBlack MagicSherwin-WilliamsΔE 59.2Very different colors

RAL 280-M is a RAL Effect color while Black Magic comes from Sherwin-Williams. RAL 280-M reads as beige, while Black Magic reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. At LRV 26 vs 3, RAL 280-M will read as the brighter of the two — a 23-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. At ΔE 59.2, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 6 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

RAL 280-M vs Black Magic in Real Spaces

6 real rooms side by side. Seeing RAL 280-M and Black Magic in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.

Living Room

Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. RAL 280-M returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

RAL 280-MRAL Effect 280-M living room interior

@visualization

Black MagicSW Black Magic living room paint review

@jillysue317

Bedroom

Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. The LRV gap is large enough that RAL 280-M will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Black Magic would.

RAL 280-MRAL Effect 280-M bedroom

@visualization

Black MagicSW 6991 bedroom accent wall

@interiors_kdm

Kitchen

Kitchen lighting tends to be bright and directional, which sharpens contrast and makes undertone differences more apparent. The LRV gap is large enough that RAL 280-M will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Black Magic would.

RAL 280-MRAL Effect 280-M kitchen painted backsplash

@visualization

Black MagicSW Black Magic kitchen island

@redrosesandrust

Bathroom

Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The LRV gap is large enough that RAL 280-M will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Black Magic would.

RAL 280-MRAL Effect 280-M bathroom

@visualization

Black MagicSherwin Williams SW 6991 bathroom photo

@walnutandpinedesign

House

At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. The LRV gap is large enough that RAL 280-M will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Black Magic would.

RAL 280-MRAL Effect 280-M victorian house interior

@visualization

Black MagicSherwin Williams SW 6991 exterior paint

@cambridgeclassichomes

Kitchen Cabinets

On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. The LRV gap is large enough that RAL 280-M will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Black Magic would.

RAL 280-MRAL Effect 280-M kitchen cabinets

@visualization

Black MagicSW 6991 kitchen cabinets paint

@rosewoodcustombuilders

Color Details

RAL 280-M
RAL Effect · RAL 280-M
Hex#B28740
LRV26.3
BrandRAL Effect
NumberRAL 280-M
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessMedium
Black Magic
Sherwin-Williams · 6991
Hex#323132
LRV3.1
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number6991
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessDark

RAL 280-M vs Black Magic Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 280-M on one side and Black Magic on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.

More RAL 280-M comparisons

See how RAL 280-M stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
RAL 280-M
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
RAL 280-M
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
RAL 280-M
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

RAL 280-M reads noticeably lighter

Purbeck Stone
RAL 280-M
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone is the lighter choice

Evergreen Fog
RAL 280-M
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Evergreen Fog reads slightly lighter

Mizzle
RAL 280-M
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle is the lighter choice

Agreeable Gray
RAL 280-M
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray is the lighter choice

Denim Drift
RAL 280-M
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Nearly identical in tone

Tranquil Dawn
RAL 280-M
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn is the lighter choice

Balboa Mist
RAL 280-M
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Vintage Vogue
RAL 280-M
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

RAL 280-M reads noticeably lighter

Pale Green
RAL 280-M
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Pale Green reads slightly lighter

Pine Needle
RAL 280-M
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

RAL 280-M reads noticeably lighter

Cement grey
RAL 280-M
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Nearly identical in tone

Black grey
RAL 280-M
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

RAL 280-M reads noticeably lighter

Piazza
RAL 280-M
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza is the lighter choice

Humble Yellow
RAL 280-M
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow is the lighter choice

Windmill Lane
RAL 280-M
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Windmill Lane reads slightly lighter

Senses
RAL 280-M
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Senses reads noticeably lighter

Lamp Black
RAL 280-M
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

RAL 280-M reads noticeably lighter

Washed Linen
RAL 280-M
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen is the lighter choice

Tea with Florence
RAL 280-M
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

RAL 280-M reads slightly lighter

Thames Fog
RAL 280-M
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Nearly identical in tone

Ocean Abyss
RAL 280-M
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

RAL 280-M reads noticeably lighter

Classic Silver
RAL 280-M
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver reads noticeably lighter

Teton Blue
RAL 280-M
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Teton Blue reads slightly lighter

RAL 110-2
RAL 280-M
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

RAL 110-1
RAL 280-M
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
RAL 280-M
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
RAL 280-M
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

RAL 280-M reads noticeably lighter